Research and Technical Support for Infrastructure Laboratories

The Federal Highway Administration established a Master IDIQ on August 27, 2019, to procure management, operation, and maintenance services for the Structures Laboratory, Non-Destructive Evaluation Laboratory, Hydraulics Laboratory, and Geotechnical Laboratory under the Office of Infrastructure Research & Development. The vehicle's ordering period closed on August 26, 2024; the vehicle is no longer accepting new task orders.

Work supports research and technical assistance addressing critical highway infrastructure needs, including design, materials, construction, operation, and preservation of pavements, bridges, culverts, tunnels, and other structures. Task orders have funded support services spanning laboratory operations, nondestructive evaluation of bridge components, concrete performance research, and geotechnical engineering studies.

Genex Systems, LLC dominates the vehicle, holding 7 of 16 awarded task orders and $38.5 million in combined potential value—approximately 68% of the vehicle's total potential. Highway Technology Partners LLC, Engineering & Software Consultants, LLC, and Hptech, Inc. each hold 3 task orders, with combined potential values of $11.4 million, $3.4 million, and $3 million respectively. All 16 task orders were awarded without set-aside designations. The Federal Highway Administration is the sole customer across all task orders.

As of October 1, 2024, the most recent task-order award, the vehicle has obligated $41.5 million against a combined potential value of $56.3 million (74% obligated). Task-order values range from approximately $278,000 to $9.99 million, with typical durations extending 12 to 36 months. Orders have included both firm-fixed-price and time-and-material pricing structures, with some hybrid arrangements. The vehicle's combined ceiling is $52.518 million; the originating solicitation anticipated a not-to-exceed value of approximately $25 million over five years at award.

Ordering momentum declined in the final two years before the window closed, with only two task orders awarded in 2023 and one in 2024, compared to three to four annually in prior years. The vehicle operates under NAICS code 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences) and was designated for small-business competition at award.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Infrastructure Research & Development (HRDI) conducts and oversees research and development programs and projects that address critical highway infrastructure needs and priorities of national importance. Studies focus on the design, materials, construction, operation, and preservation of highway pavements, bridges, culverts, tunnels, and other structures. In addition, HRDI provides expert technical assistance to other FHWA offices, other Federal agencies, State and local transportation organizations, industry and academia. Through an integrated and interdisciplinary research approach, HRDI provides state-of-the-art knowledge and tools with the goal of improving the safety, performance, and cost effectiveness of the Nation's highway infrastructure, while minimizing the impacts that highway construction, operations, maintenance, and rehabilitation may have on the environment. Across the highway infrastructure spectrum, the contributions of stakeholders in the development and execution of multiple year R & D plans and roadmaps are key to the success of the office.